People with one of the following 35 surnames might be in for a surprise as DNA website MyHeritage announces full list of regal titlesThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
If you carry one of the following 35 surnames, you absolutely might be connected to the royal family(Image: Karwai Tang, WireImagevia Getty Images)
Many of us are keen to learn more about our ancestry, family history and potential relations. The days of laboriously trawling through heritage records and census data are over, thanks to the numerous online platforms that make this process straightforward.
Currently, MyHeritage is offering a 14-day free trial, providing individuals with the chance to map out their family tree, discover new relatives and delve into billions of historical records. They’ve even compiled a list of 35 surnames that could potentially reveal a connection to royalty.
According to the company, certain surnames have traditionally been linked to nobility and could suggest a Royal lineage. If users possess one of these 35 surnames, they might be in for a surprise when it comes to their family tree, reports the Express.
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Whilst these surnames don’t guarantee that individuals will definitely be connected to the royals, they provide an excellent starting point for those who are intrigued. The website also offers DNA testing services.
To discover more, people simply need to visit MyHeritage and start constructing their family tree using the website’s feature. These enable users to add names, dates, photographs and stories to share with other potential relatives.
They can then search through the historical records which contain census data, birth and death certificates and marriage records. These will provide customers with details about their ethnic heritage and match them with family members.
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The 35 surnames are:
1. Windsor: The surname of the current British Royal family since 1917
2. Tudor: The Welsh dynasty that gave us monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
3. Stuart: A Scottish house that governed England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
4. Plantagenet: A Royal house that supplied England with monarchs from Henry II to Richard III.
5. Capet: The dynasty that held sway over France from 987 to 1328.
6. Bourbon: A European Royal house that ruled France, Spain, and other territories.
7. Habsburg: A notable Royal house of Europe, renowned for ruling the Holy Roman Empire.
8. Hanover: The British Royal house from George I to Queen Victoria.
9. Valois: A cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty that governed France.
10. Lancaster: A branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, known for its involvement in the Wars of the Roses.
11. York: Another branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, also pivotal in the Wars of the Roses.
12. Bruce: A Scottish Royal house, with Robert the Bruce being a significant king.
13. de Valois: A French Royal house that produced several kings.
14. de Medici: A powerful Italian family that produced royalty and popes.
15. Savoy: A Royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France.
16. Orange-Nassau: The Dutch Royal family.
17. Oldenburg: A European Royal house that includes the current Danish Royal family.
18. Glucksburg: A branch of the House of Oldenburg, associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty.
19. Romanov: The final imperial dynasty to rule Russia.
20. Baskerville: A noble family name with historical ties to England.
21. Darcy: A surname linked with medieval nobility and landowners in England and Ireland.
22. Neville: An influential English noble family with significant sway during the medieval era.
23. Percy: An aristocratic English lineage renowned for their role in British history.
24. Astley: A noble surname associated with the English peerage.
25. Capell: A distinguished English lineage with historical connections to the aristocracy.
26. Howard: A notable aristocratic family in the UK, bearing the title of Dukes of Norfolk.
27. Seymour: The lineage of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife, connected to the Dukedom of Somerset.
28. Grey: Linked with Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for nine days.
29. FitzAlan: A powerful medieval family, previously Earls of Arundel.
30. Courtenay: A noble lineage with ties to English and French royalty.
31. Manners: The surname of the Dukes of Rutland, a high-ranking noble family.
32. Russell: Associated with the Dukes of Bedford, an influential aristocratic family.
33. Cavendish: The surname of the Dukes of Devonshire, a formidable British noble family.
34. Talbot: A noble family holding the Earldom of Shrewsbury.
35. Spencer: The family name of Princess Diana, linking it to the contemporary British Royal family.
If you spot your name on the list, you can go to MyHeritage to see exactly how you’re connected with the royals. If this platform doesn’t quite suit what genealogy enthusiasts are seeking, there are alternative DNA sites available.
Ancestry provides DNA tests from £79 and organises and links customers with their relatives whilst also offering insights about family origins. Another option is 23andMe which provides DNA testing with an ancestry breakdown, personalised health insights and more for prices starting at £89.
MyHeritage boasts an impressive 4 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot, though. One user commented: “Immediate accurate statistics of my immediate family members.”
Customers can dig deep to see if they are related to The Royal Family(Image: MyHeritage)
Another wrote: “Regular updates of discoveries, positive results. This site is not just about the money, it is about genuine results for the family history researcher.”
“My family history has expanded and the format is easily understood. Changes are quick and easy. Thank you,” said another customer. Opinions on the platform were mixed, with one user expressing confusion: “I don’t fully understand it. I can’t find a user guide, difficult to navigate, Help Center does not always understand my problems. My previous version was much easier for me.”
Yet another amateur genealogist recounted their positive experience using the site: “Finding related families and information relating to individuals has been a wonderful experience. My Heritage has made it even easier to trace ancestors and verify relations.”
The DNA tests and services are accessible via the MyHeritage website.